Washington Voters Watch Super Tuesday With Interest

POLITICS 

By Pete Springer

Portland, OR  February 5, 2008 5:33 p.m.

Washington voters weren’t part of Super Tuesday voting, but they’ve already been casting ballots in what is perhaps one of the most unusual voting situations in the country.  

Pete Springer reports.

Washington is the only state with both caucuses and a primary election.  

The caucuses will be this Saturday, with the Democrats determining their national convention delegates entirely from the caucus, while the Republicans use them for half their delegates.

Then February 19th, Washington holds a primary, where the Republicans will determine the other half of their delegates.  

Add to the mix that all but two counties are vote-by-mail for the primary—a popular way to vote says Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed.

Sam Reed: “We’ve had a huge response -- in fact they said it’s twice the number they had for the general election last fall.  So vote-by-mail is turning out to provide us a good indication as to the interest in this presidential primary.”

Reed and Governor Chris Gregoire have asked presidential hopefuls to visit Washington, but so far, no one has confirmed.

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